knopff



(No Mouel.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. KNOPFF. INGUBATOR.

Patented June 4, 1889.

(No Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. KNOPFP.

INGUBATOR.

No. 404,634. Patent ed June 4,- 1889.

Witnesses n. Perms. F'l nla-Lilhugnpher. Wnshingtum n. a

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILHELM KNOPFF, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

INCUBATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,634, dated June 4,1889.

Application filed January 8, 1887. Serial No. 223,801. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM KNOPFF, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussiaand German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements inIncubators, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to imitate as closely as possible theeffect of a setting hen on the eggs which she covers.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination ofparts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation ofmy incubator; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same on the line A Bof Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line 0 D of Fig. 2;. Fig.4, a similar section on the line E F of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a plan view ofthe evaporating-box. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views of thedevicesfor raising and lowering the artificial mother, Figs. 6 and 7 beingelevations taken at right angles to each other, Fig. 8 illustrating amodified arrangement of the upper rods, and Fig. 9 representing a planview.

A designates the casing of the incubator, having a base B, roof 0, anddoor 12 WVithin this casing are rectangular double walls 1) h, leaving aWater-space a between them, and closed at the top and bottom, so as toform a water-jacket. This is complete on all sides, except at the front,where a door b gives access to the space within said water-jacket. Inthe lower part of this space an evaporatordrawer 6, provided with smallwater-pockets e of any convenient number, is supported on guideways orshelvesf, formed in said waterjacket. The said drawer extends throughthe front of the incubator A, so that it may be drawn in or out at will.

Between the base B and the bottom plate of the casing a gas-burnerj isarranged. The heat from this burner evaporates the water in pockets 6'.The evaporation is accelerated by a draft of air through valves 8',which open at the front of the incubator into the space immediatelybelow said evaporator drawer. Corresponding valves 8, similarly arrangedin the upper part of the front of casing A, allow exit to said draft.The said valves 8 s are hingedto the casing, so that either of them maybe entirely opened at will. Valve 8 is also provided with apertures u,and valve .9 I with apertures a, through which a lesser draft of airwill normally pass, even when the valves 3 s are closed, as shown inFig. 1. Immediately above said evaporator-drawer a nest-drawer disarranged, having several compartments and perforated walls and bottom.Each compartment is provided with soft fibrous material shaped to form anest and having filaments which dangle into the water in pockets 6, inorder that capillary attraction may supply the nests with sufficientmoisture to aid in keeping the under side of the eggs moderately cool.The steam from the evaporating-drawer also ascends through the bottomperforations of this nest-drawer and aids in the same cooling andmoistening operation. Air enters said nest drawer through these holes,and also through the holes (1 in its side walls. The nest-drawer issupported on shelves or guideways f, formed in the waterjacket, and maybe withdrawn through the door b Immediately above the nest-drawer anartt) ficial mother 0 is suspended, consisting of a hot-water receptaclehaving rubber bellies c extending downward, one to each nest. Thecurvature of the nest corresponds to that of o the bellies, andconsequently each egg is in contact with a belly of the artificialmother,,. when the latter is lowered for hatching. The hot water issupplied to said receptacle or artificial mother through flexible pipes72, Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The said artificial mother is raised and loweredby a hand-wheel w, which turns a screw-shaft 1.0 so as to make a nut 10travel up or down thereon according to the direction of rotation. Thisnut is connected by levers 10 w, and 10 to the top of the receptacle orartificial mother aforesaid.

The water-space a is supplied with fresh water from a receptacle 7cthrough a pipe m and angular tube m.

A thermometer r is arranged in a small casing, which communicates withthe interior of the receptacle or artificial mother 0, and anotherthermometer 'r is similarly arranged in a receptacle communicating withthe waterspace a. The heat of the water in the said receptacle and inthe water-jacket is indicated by these thermometers through windows leftin their casings.

The space under roof 0 is used as a coop nut, and levers for raising andlowering said for the young chickens, and is preferably exartificialmother at will, substantially as set tended laterally by Wing D. forth.

Having thus described my invention, What I In Witness whereof I havehereunto set my 5 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters hand inpresence of two witnesses.

Patent is- T v 1 I l 1 A series of nests and the box or drawer con-ILHILLM KNOP taining them, in combination with a hot-Wa- \Vitnesses:

ter receptacle or artificial mother arranged H. BRACKEBUSCH,

ID for contact with said eggs, and a screw-shaft, B. ROI.

